All Blacks secure major sponsorship with AIG ahead of British tour

The New Zealand Rugby Union are expected to announce on Friday that it has
secured a five-year, multi-million pound sponsorship deal with American
insurance company AIG ahead of the All Blacks tour of Britain this autumn.

The deal, which is likely to see a new advertising logo on the All Blacks' jersey sleeves and shorts, is set to be announced in Auckland.

AIG, best known in sporting circles and main shirt sponsors of football club Manchester United from 2006-2010, is set to replace truck maker Iveco as one of the All Blacks' main sponsors.

The All Black kit now carries the logo of main sponsor adidas, which has a contract with the NZRU until 2019.

A recent Forbes list ranked AIG the 29th-largest public company in the world, though in 2008, it received controversial bailout help from the US Government. It subsequently changed its name to Chartis, but has reverted to AIG this year.